The Jets extinguish the Blues

Perfetti feeds three as Winnipeg burns on

The same shelf, again

For the second season running, qualification night set the Winnipeg Jets against the St. Louis Blues, and only one candle could leave the Enterprise Center still lit. A year earlier the Jets had won 4-2 and snuffed the Blues on this same night. Winnipeg had finished 4th of 32 last season. St. Louis had finished 16th. For the Blues, a loss meant going dark on qualification night two years in a row.

Perfetti lights the second

Brandon Saad struck first, a wrist shot at 10:11 of the first period, set up by Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko. Then Brayden Schenn went off for holding, and Winnipeg came alive. Nino Niederreiter tipped in a power play goal at 8:12 of the second, 18:01 after Saad's, with Neal Pionk and Cole Perfetti assisting.

Colin Miller, a defenseman, followed with a slap shot at 13:58, fed by Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers. At 17:40 Kyle Connor snapped a wrist shot past Jordan Binnington off feeds from Dylan Samberg and Perfetti. It stood as the winner. Perfetti had assisted on all three.

Hellebuyck shuts the door

Saad answered 5:15 into the third, another wrist shot, this one from Jordan Kyrou and Thomas. Samberg then sat for sending the puck over the glass at 11:10. Nothing more got past Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 27 of 29. Binnington made 21 saves on 24 shots at the other end. The Blues were doused, and 23 flames still burn, Winnipeg's among them.